Children have to be educated, but they also have to be left to educate themselves.” – Ernest Dimnet. In the process of educating children, the best way to teach them to educate themselves is to empower their mind. Teach them that the mind is a wonder place where thoughts and ideas are created for the reality. It can be positive or negative thought, each has the power to propel an outcome.
According to neuroscientists, our brains are flexible and our thoughts are processed through neural pathways. Our recurring thoughts make the neural pathway stronger and by so doing, routines and patterns are established. The flexibility of the brain makes it possible to form new neuro pathways which rewire our thoughts and ideas often. Thus, with our thoughts, we can change our realities through our recurring thoughts.
The power of positive thinking isn’t something new. We see it often in motivational boards, vision posters, personal mantras and even in the holy bible. Both researches and experiences have shown us that conscious intention and positive emotions enable us to create better and more rewarding life.
Help them harness the power of positive thinking?
Positive thinking means focusing on the good and always expecting the best in every situation. Eventhough it’s natural to think negative or react adversely, it is painful to see children express anger, self doubt, frustration, sadness and disappointment. This means that a child needs to be taught how to accept negative emotions and process it in a healthy way for a positive outcome. From age five, children can grasp this teaching, apply it and get better with it as they grow. Parents need to also understand that their influence and perception of life is the greatest influence their children have and so must effectively deal with their own thoughts and emotions as a way of teaching their children same.
Do you agree that we remember painful experience more than the joyful ones? We dwell on insults more than praises? We recall bad deeds more than good deeds? We react more to negative than positive stimuli? We forget many good deeds and cling to one bad deed done by a person? These are the long term impacts of pessimistic or negative thinking which unconsciously developed from childhood and started manifesting significantly in adult age. Psychologists call it Negativity Bias. Children must be taught how to manifest these pessimisms into optimisms in order to effectively and efficiently shape their behaviour, decisions and relationships for positive outcomes.
Ways to Teach a child the power of positive thinking
The nugget of truth that parents hate to understand is to think that it is right to do everything for their children, to always be there for them, protect them always, shield them from making mistakes or build their character for them. No, parents only need to support them, guide them, educate them and allow them build and live their lives. Children need to build their character and confidence by themselves, make mistakes, learn from them and shape their future by their actions and inactions.The few tips to guide and support children through positivity of mind are;
- Appreciate the little moments in life. Some moments are rare and too precious to overlook. Some are regular and too common that we fail to appreciate them. While on a walk or a trip with you child, take time to explain some beautiful views and their meanings. For instance, the rainbow, the bird nest, the animals mating etc. Nature has a lot to make us wonder and appreciate creatures. Even at home, children should be taught to appreciate happy family time, bed time stories, movie nights, birthday celebrations and other periodic moments in the family. Your children can jot down these moments in a journal and reminisce on the memories beautifully.
- Model positivity and optimism. Parents should say their positive thoughts out, model happiness and contentment, complain less, make positive comments often and compliment their children and other children regularly. When children complain about things, parents should show them the positive aspect of it. Yes, the food tastes too salty but let us appreciate the fact that we have food to eat. Appreciation and gratitude must be instilled in every child, they are powerful tools of a happy life.
- Lend a helping hand. Many people need help, be always disposed to render it. Make your children volunteer to help people. For instance, asking someone that is carrying plenty loads, walking on the street if he or she needs help. Children must also help with chores at home and do it voluntarily and cheerfully. They must learn voluntary service and cheerful giving. Some little acts of kindness will make a child see the beauty of the world and be more positive.
- Honor other people’s presence in your life. There is joy in having loving family and worthy friends around. Let your children recognize and appreciate the impact of these people in making life worth living. They should learn to share positivity with others, attend events, merry with people, laugh and enjoy activities like movies together and bond positively with good people. Children need to gain positive mindset through loving family and friends. This way, they’ll learn to love life more, notice positive details above negative ones and be more ready to handle bad moments by thinking more about the positive moments.
- Set tasks for them and reward them when they’re accomplished. Accomplishing tasks give a special joy to both children and adults. While giving them the task, let them understand that failure and disappointment are possibilities and teach them how to deal with them when they come. It builds their mind to positivity and prepares same mind to deal effectively with negativity.
In summary, teach them that what you say is what you become. Always profess positivity and work your mind towards your desires. Believe in yourself, trust the process, be confident in your future and watch your future conform with your mind. These teachings should be the responsibility of parents, teachers and caregivers towards children, not just the parents alone.
However, the ability to manifest success by mind power should not be isolated from the power of definitive action. The equation is, thought to feeling, to action and to result. You think it, you do it and you achieve it. As you think Canaan, be ready for the wilderness walk before you arrive Canaan.
Amara Ann Unachukwu
